Stretcher or bed for automobiles.



R. L. BRADLEY. STRETGHER 0R BED FOR AUTOMOBILES. PPLICATION FILED MAY 9, 1913.

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Weses n n w'/ Inventor Attorneys Patented Dee. 23, 1913.

RLLPH LENARD BRADLEY, OF STEILACOOM, WASHINGTON.

STRETCHER @E BED FR UTOMOBLES.

To all tti/710m 'it may concern.'

Y Beitknovvn that l, RALPH LEONARD Buen- Lnr, a citizen of the United States, residing at Steilacoom, in the county of Pierce and Stateot llashington, have invented a new and useful Stretcher or Bed for utorno biles, of Which the following is a speciica tion.

The present invention appertains to an attachment for automobiles, and-relates more particularly to a stretcher or bed applicable to an automobile in a lnovel manner.

llt is the object of the present invention to provide a novel andv improved attachment of the nature indicated which may be readily applied to an automobile, and. which sha-ll Vio serve as a convenient and eliicient stretcher or bed, thus permitting the automobile to be converted to an ambulance or bed, when circumstances necessitate.

rlhe present invention also coinprehends the provision ota device of the' nature indicated which may be atachcd to the automobile in a peculiar or unique manner, so that the strain will be properly transmitted to the body or chassis of the machine, with* out straining the tonneau or other vveaker portions of the automobile and Without in'urinfr or mari-in the automobile.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a device of the character speciied which may be readily collapsed or folded so as to-be stowed away Within. a' small coninass.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a bed or stretcher of such construction a-nd proportions that it may elticientlyserve its purposes, and in order that the Sante maybe attached to the automobile in an efficient manner, itbeing observed that the application of the device-ofthe present character to an automobile is surrounded With a number of, difficulties diie to the standardization of automobiles.

"With the foregoing general objects outlined and with other objects in view, which Will be apparent as the nature .of the invention is better understood, the present invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinai'ter described and claimed, it being; understoodthat changes in the precise embodiment of the invention can be made Within: the'scope of what is claimed, Without departing from the spirit et'. theinvention.

Specification ofiLettcrs Patent. Paiijqgmg@ Digg 23, gijtn appl-.manon ined nia-y e, uns.

Serial No'. $611,654.

The present invention has been illustrated 1n its preferred embodiment, in the accompanying drawing, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective vievv of an automobile, shovving theA improved stretcher or bodV applied thereto. Fig. 2 is aplan view or' the present invention showing the same disniembered.

lin carrying out the present invention, reterence-heinehad in detail to thedrawing, there is provided a rectangular body l which is of suitable size, and whichv is constructed of canvas, or other textile or fabric possessing the requisite properties. The'ends of the body l.- are provided iviththe hems 2 through dll:

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which4 apair of cross rods 3 are passed.

The cross rods 3 are provided 'with the sockets l adjoiningx their ends and openingI through the henis 2, and each hem 2 is provided with a pair of openings 5 adjoining its ends or adjoiningl the sockets 4i, the openings 5 exposing,A the rods 3. A pair of@ supports or legs 6 are provided for the iront rod 3, While a pair oit supports 7 are provided for the rear cross rod 3. rlfhe respective snpports t5 and 7 are provided with the pins or tenons (la and T, respectively, which are adapted to engage in the sockets t provided in 'the respective cross rods 3. The 'forward supports 6 are relatively short While the rear supports 7 are relatively long. These supports, especially the rear supports, may be jointed or extensible in order that they may be folded conipactly'when not in use, and

in order that they maybe extended or Opened to accommodate various automo- 'itt bile bodies. Guys 8 are attached tothefronti i cross rod 3, coiled Wire springs 9 being preferably interposed between the inner ends ofthe guys 8 and the cross rod 3, and the springs 9 beingattached to the` cross rod within the openings 5. A suitable blockf and tackle l()v is interposed or inserted in each guy 8, and the guys 8 are provided With-the snap hooks or attaching members il at their free ends. The guys 1Q are attached tothe rear cross rod 3, Within the openings 5 of' the respective hem and are also provided at their free ends With the snap hooks or other attachingrnembers i3. The respective guys areV preferably composed' of rope,A the inherent tiexibility and slight elasticity of y which assists in yieldably :supporting the body l 'to a desirable, but limited extent.

ln applying `the stretcher or bed to an automobile, the forward supports 6 have their feet or lower ends engaged to the front seat 14 or upon the door or bottom of the car body in advance ofthe front seat 14:, and the lower ends of the feet of the rear supports T are engaged Within the corner between the back of the seat 14e and the floor or bottom of the car body, the rear supports standing diagonally or in an inclined position, so that the upper ends of the supports T and the rear end of the body 1 Will stand above the tonneau. ln this manner, the rear end of the-body 1 Will project rear-r wardly over the tonneau 15, which not only permits the body 1 to be of sufficient length, but will permit the rear guys to be attached to the rear end of the chassis 1G by means of the snap hooks 13. The forward guys S are attached to the forward end of the chassis 16 by means of the snap hooks 11, the body 1 then being drawn taut by means of the block and tackle 10 at each side.

In the larger machines or automobiles, the front supports 6 are designed to rest on the front seat 14, While in smaller machines, the said supports will more properly rest upon the floor o r bottom of the car body in advanceof the front seat, the rear supports in each case engaging in back of the seat 14 as specified. lVhen the device is thus attached or applied to the automobile, the body 1 Will be supported in an eicient manner, it being noted that the springs 9 provide a sutlicient resiliency for .the body 1 to the comfortof the occupant or occupants.

One of the novel features of the present device is the arrangement of the rear supports 7 which permits the rear end of the body 1 to extend over, but out of contact with, the rear seat 17, and which permits the rear guys 12 to be fastened to the rear end of the chassis outside of the tonneau. The supports 7 also permit the rear end of the body 1 to vibrate vertically to a limited extent', the forward supports 6 permitting the body 1 to vibrate longitudinally so that the combined vibration of the front and rear supports will render the stretcher or bed most comfortable. The arrangement of the front and rear supports will also transmit the strain to the stronger portion of the car body, it being observed that the tonneau is under no strain whatever. The body 1 will be maintained taut or in a stretched condition and Will not sag under any conditions, notwithstanding the longitudinal and vertical resiliency of the body 1.

The present attachment may be applied to the automobile or machine 'Within the usual top, so that the side curtains may be Vhen the structure or bed is not in use, the same may be'compactly folded or stored away, the supports being detachable by withdrawing the pins or tenons 6el and Tai mobile may be quickly converted into an ambulance or a bed.

From the foregoing taken in connection with the drawing, the advantages and capabilities of the present device will be apparent to those versed in the art, it being noted that the objects have been carried out satisfactorily, and that the present device provides a serviceable and efficient one for the purposes foi' which it is designed.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new is Y 1. in a device of the character described, a body, perpendicular supports for the frontend of the body-and designed to rest upon the front seat of an automobile, inclined rear supports for the body designed to rest against the back of the front seat, and guys attached to the ends ofthe body and designed for attachment to the front and rear 9 ends of the chassis of the automobile.

Q. ln a device of the character described, a body, short perpendicular supports for the front. end thereof and designed to rest upon the front seat of an automobile, in-

'clined rear supports for the body designed to rest against the back of the front seat, the upper ends of the rear supports and the rear end of the body being adapted to project over the rear seat of the automobile, guys attached to the rear end thereof and designed to be attached to the rear end of the chassis of the automobile, and guys attached to the front end of the body and designed to be attached to the front end of the chassis, the last mentioned guys including means for stretching the body.

3. In a device of the character described, a body, front and rear supports therefor, the front supports being adapted to rest upon the front seat of Yan autoinobile,and the rear supports being inclined and being designed to restagainst the back of the front seat, front and rear guys attached to the ends of the body and designed for attachment to the front and rear ends of the chassis of the automobile, and resilient members interposed in the front guys.

4. In a device of t-he character described, a flexible body having 'a hem at each end, cross rods passing through the hems, front and rear suppoits attachable to the cross rods, the' front supports being adapted to rest upon the front seat of an automobile, and the rear supports being inclined and being designed to rest against the back of myA own, I have hereto aixed my signature the front sea-t, and fro-nt and rear guys atin the presence of two witnesses. tached to the respective cross rods and de- RALPH LEONARD BRADLEY. signed for attachment to the front and rear Witnesses:

5 ends of the chassis. M. BAIR,

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as F. H. CHELIUS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing' the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G. 

